Adnan Muka
Part seven
(103 letters from communist prisons)
Letters from Shkodra prison 1951- 1953
Letters from Burrell Prison 1953-1965
Memorie.al/Sunday 29.01.1967, still without dawn, and the darkness was on the way, when no one was alive on the street, I knocked hard on the door of the Franciscan Assembly, in the neighborhood “Arra e Madhe” of the city. Duel guard (or goalkeeper).
– I am looking for Father Frano Kirin.
– “He slept,” he replied.
– Take it, I have to inform you about the death of a friend!
After a while the door reopened and I faced Father Franon. As soon as he saw me, I changed his face, as if he were numb, he thought well and did not speak for a moment, and finally without comforting me, he said to me: “Son, he has left you rich!”. On the way home by bike, where a mountain of work and trouble awaited me, I thought very little about the words I heard. So quickly I asked myself: What happened to us? Our movable and immovable property was confiscated, it was confiscated… we were left alone, his family: aunt, sister, wife with three sons and two graves.
The good and enviable legacy…, but above all it left us a good name: glorious work for the benefit of the Homeland, national education, Islamic culture and fees. He left concrete works, published writings, manuscripts… yes, yes, he also left us letters from communist prisons with that beautiful writing, to express his love for his family perfectly artistically.
These 103 letters were preserved as expensive, as relics, as the greatest left treasure from him. When I got home, in the Parrucë neighborhood, I was calm and alive. I was full of energy to face that mortal day, which was also known as a day of victory, because we: father and family, arrived with triumph over 7000 days of suffering with deprivation of liberty, in forced labor camps and prisons, and for about 500 days (after being released alive from prison) we lived very happily in the over 200-year-old house of the Mukejs, in Shkodra.
In 1997, prof. Vehbi Hoti, professor of Psychology at the University “Luigj Gurakuqi” of Shkodra, defined the letters from prisons in this way: “Letter of exchange with the family… are an expression of his versatile personality. They are prose with poetic inspirations, very exciting and educational. They can rightly be called a “handbook” for education in general and family education in particular. They represent an intimate conversation with the family, especially with their children. He advises and guides them, seeks them out and encourages them to always move forward. “108 Letters from prisons are one of the ways in which the prisoner had the opportunity to communicate mainly with his family. In order to be “released” they had to meet the requirements of the regulation: to be short, about 1 page of a notebook, to be written clearly and understandably, on issues related to the health and needs of the prisoner; 1 letter per month was allowed. After the letter was checked, her fate to go to the family or not was left to the operative court… Many times, the letters did not come, because in certain situations, especially when prisoners were in labor camps, or when prisoners were punished for “breaking the rules,” communication and receipt of letters and food were cut off. (This has often happened in Burrell Prison), so letters are not regularly filed every month. During the time that Sheuqet Muka was serving his sentence in Shkodra, he sent a few letters. this is because we meet after 1 pair of thick bars at a distance of 1 meter away. From Shkodra prison in this book are presented the first 12 letters (20.IX.1951- 15. III. 1953), while the other 91 letters are from Burrel prison (1953 – 1965).
Correspondence from Burrel prison, which was over 100 km from Shkodra, has been more frequent. For nearly 19 years in prison, his family has been guarding 103 of them. Absences as a result: they are not allowed to be sent (are forbidden) or they are not allowed to be guarded by us. These are the copies, they are all being published, without any changes and some of them (the readable ones, which are not written in pencil), can be scanned. The purpose is to understand some aspects of the conditions, yes and to show how we have achieved communication, uninterrupted, with the father in prison, to keep in touch with us, to send in the last years of imprisonment every week (to eat) a letter and every mid-month a telegram with reply. Communication kept him alive and the gratitude of this political prisoner of conscience is boundless, as will be read and described in beautiful touching words in these letters. This regularity with letters, simple family communication telegrams, became the object of evaluation by the prison command and was recommended to the prisoners as an example to follow.
Derg. Sheuqet Muka. Prison of the Enemies of the People, Shkodra
Send. of Rep 321, Burrel
Letters from prisons, beginning in 1951 and ending with the letter August 1, 1965, are rare in their kind and perhaps the only ones that are preserved and being published. Their evaluation belongs to the reader.
Send me the envelope. Sheuqet Muka. Prison of the Enemies of the People) Shkodra with the initials at the top of each letter V.F.L.P. (Death – Fascism, Freedom – People). Posted by Rep 321 Burrel (address of this A.M. prison)
Letter from Shkodra prison
(1951- 1953)
Letter no. 26
12 .04. 1956
To you, Tije e Lirije, qi I have you like two beautiful buds of white flower, father, for whom you are at the same time very dear, is wishing you a happy birthday! 11 years ago, there in the house of my great-grandmothers, in the former neighborhood of Parruca in the city of Shkodra, where I grew up and for me it was the most beautiful place in this world, even though they left at a very young age, even 2 buds, almost newborns, with which my soul was pleased, when you lived near them and since two months, as never before, with this pleasure I am somewhat longing and moreover the breezes because this month, you are His , let go in Shkodra and Lirija e Hakas in Tirana! Oh, how you would like to be near you during these birthdays, to bring you my heartfelt congratulations, to lightly rub your head, to fill them with those soft golden hairs and to take you smell, I kissed your gills and cheeks, as I said ban your mother and you Symja together with two loving aunts: Xhevja and Fetja of the brother who love you and hate you just like yourself. With You, where are you the youngest, I did not have the good fortune to live close to you as long as I was found and lived near Freedom. My bad luck brought you to grow away from mine! With this together I am still satisfied and refreshed, where I see you surrounded by my brother, aunt, Hakan’s mother, uncle and aunt and my brother Zijan, who also looks after you and loves you nothing more than that in my own name, as a souvenir, a congratulatory gift has brought you a bunch of flowers.
May you live a long and happy life and spend every year better than the other, may you always celebrate your birthday as your heart desires and the beautiful names you have, may you enjoy them with honor. I received the letter and the postcard. I am in good health. I hope to be brought to Tirana for the light operation I need. I am happy for the release of Vati and Ruzhdis. My congratulations and greetings to both of you especially Vat, for the postcard qi I take. I have food, I can postpone it for another month, just take me with someone to smoke. I need some black and white shoes, some All, old pants and other things that I asked for with the next letter. When you come, some more coal. An Italian Qur’an was brought to me in the coming months. If you come, you can leave me for Eid or after. Greetings to all’s mother for the name of all those who ask. Greetings from Musa.
Your father
Sheuqet Muka
Letter no. 27
04.05.1956
My beloved son Adnan,
Look forward to your father’s congratulations!
May 6 marks the 21st anniversary of his life. I wish you 100 years of happiness, you always enjoy full health and you always maintain good behavior, with which you are distinguished. With the white season of flowers, different colors and pleasant scents, live rices appeared to you and revealed you, in order to reap more and more profits in your daily work. On this occasion, I owe it to you to bring, as a birthday fish, the following advice: Be your own controller. For every evening, every week and month, inspect yourself well and especially at the end of the year to keep a balance of the work you have developed. By acting in this way, you will gain experience by moving forward with sure steps. As for the one who starts counting in the country and is not able to go further, there is no doubt that it is the beginning of the bottom, which the wise man would look at farther and farther away. So, blessed is he who owns himself and comes out excited about the sentiments and, with this beautiful advice, is closing the part of the letter as far as his birthday wish is concerned. I was overjoyed to see Nazim’s letter. Out of longing I sang it many times, and it filled my eyes with oil. Write to me that I am well, and send me greetings. As yourself you will be healthy, especially Fetja and Xhevja, of course even more. I also received Zia’s postcard, which I thank for the congratulations she sends me. Even for Rasim Aga, you became very healthy. Bring my greetings and greetings to the Entrance of Zade. You also celebrate Eid al-Adha with a good heart with all your brother and sister and mother and aunt. My greetings and Eid wish: Ragip, Zija, Uncle Elez, Hakas with my uncle and aunt and all the other friends of the neighbor and those who ask for me. His freedom kissed and cheeks.
4.V.1956
Your father
Sheuqet Muka
Letter no. 28
- 06. 1956
The Religion of Mourning and your others of my loved ones!
At the last meeting, I rejoiced as much as you did, that you found me healthy and summer, from the joy that blazes in my heart, when I saw you and learned that you were all well. Believe me, out of this pleasure you felt, I did not even sleep until late after midnight, and with this joy in my soul I spent the 24th of Eid away from you. I wish you always better and better. How is Uranus doing? Well done! I look forward to doing it successfully, you come out first. Then I will be even happier. How are we closing the last class of Unika? I am waiting for qi to write me a letter with his own hand, so that you can write me the notes that he has won. I am already bringing my congratulations, and if he receives the release certificate with distinct grades, he will certainly make me even healthier. If I am lucky enough to be brought to Tirana for an operation, I will have the opportunity to see Aunt Xhevan and Symen. To both of my most cordial greetings, especially Symes, I am also wishing him a 50th birthday which is on 10 t.k.m. With this simple wish, I do not know if I am fulfilling Meserret’s wish? And you would not let me pass the Freedom and Adnan without a hug and a kiss, to which I wrote and they do not answer me. I’m glad they received my letters.
If you receive a letter from your nephew Nazim, do not leave it without sending it to me. Tell me Symes even if it was to go to my mother to Mrs. Luti and to Saimja, and to bring you my congratulations and congratulations on the release of Shaqiri, also to go to my mother Ruzhdis and wish the marriage of his son and his bis. I also had a mild flu and for three days, I was a little worried about the right side of my eyebrow. I’m fine now. I was happy for Uncle Elez. Greetings to his family as well. Towards the middle of this month I wait for Uranus to come. egg, coal, biscuits, this time do not fall on me. Let it come for Eid. Greetings and hugs to everyone, especially those who have sent me greetings. From Qazimit greetings.
Sheuqet Ahmed Muka
Letter no. 29
- 11. 1956
Burrel, me 4. XI. 1956
Adnan;
One of my thanks came when I learned from Meserret the white news that you were doing well. May we pass! For a parent, there can be no greater good news than this. Were you in the middle of fear when I met Meserret and, the first word I addressed to him, how did Adnan become? The last telegrams calmed me and refreshed my throat. Peace be upon you! Zijaja, whom I am thanking at the same time, had telegraphed to me about your improvement, but where were you in the first days of the illness, I had reason to be in your lather, after that serious illness I had passed once in a lifetime I do not know well its effects, especially the uninterrupted dreams that are seen, sadly still sod I remember. I received Meserret’s two letters and Zija’s telegram. I was quite healthy. Nazim was very happy that he was comfortable, because you were in his cassava. I was also in good health. Send me greetings and kisses from me like from Jasho. As if you were not sick, Symja and Fetja, one of them said with a sigh that they would accompany Meserret when he came. But now that the winter season is approaching, he did not look for the qi to come. Even you, in the course of this season, do not want to travel, except when the time is right, because it does not benefit me, if you get cold or mourn. Even if it is postponed for a month or six weeks without bringing me food, you do not have to worry, because the cauldron dish gives us a lot of help, and this order, you should always keep in mind.
Best wishes to Ragip and his wife, brother and sisters. Hakis condolences for the death of his brother. Consolation to Brother Domnor and their sisters for the death of their mother. And the feeling of Naqa was very painful for me: she was kind and prudent, she waited for me and shot me, not otherwise, but as if you were one of her sons. With her death, I lost an irreplaceable and unforgettable friend. Be yourself! I myself am a good comforter. The petition mediated by the Prison Command, with 2 successors, I presented to the Military Court of Tirana. I need a shirt, a glass of wool or cotton. Bring me donuts, socks, a pair of socks, some tarhan and onions. Buy me a glass of 3 liters of water and 6 strokes of hemp and write me how much they cost. With Aunt Xhevan and Uncle Elez at the helm, all the greetings of His Freedom were kissed on the cheeks and cheeks, with the message that you love me and look at me as if you were there yourself. I am waiting for a letter from you and not to come. Even Uranus should not forget to write to me. From Meserret Zija yes yes yes. I miss you too.
Your father
Sheuqet Muka
Letter no. 30
- 12. 1956
My dear ones; Aunt Xheva, Fete e Syme;
You had not yet received Adnan’s letter when I met him and Lirija on the day they came to see me. How you longed. My heart was filled with joy when I saw Adnan that he was in the best health and Lirijen who had grown up for beauty, as if he were a fairy. Since that day, I shared my mind with you to write this letter together with you three who I always have in my heart and I love you with all my heart! I owe a lot to all three of you, why did you raise my 5 children, whom you leave like a bad owl that releases its birds prematurely, and I will know this kindness for your honor as long as we are alive. May you always be in full health, as Adnan’s letter told me. When I learn about your qi I feel good, once again the boredom qi takes me away and I become healthy. I do not know why Adnan did not inform me this time when he returned. Meserreti, qi I promise he would write to me, has more than a month qi has been silent. Uranus left me a wool, when he was a soldier he wrote to me regularly.
So even in the letter before that, with which you congratulated Adnan on the spitting, I had asked him to remind me from time to time. For Him I was very happy to follow Licen. Having had the desire and willingness to continue high school lessons, I expect from her qi to try to teach best, to show me to be exemplary of her class both in lessons and even more so in behavior, just like befits a wise Albanian girl. This has all the conditions for me to be brought and behaved like that, since there are also brothers who help him. So, let her write me a letter why I should know her writing, and note to me at the same time the grades she received in the first high school of this school year. I have also received Zuk’s letter dated 15 November, to whom I am bringing my thanks and greetings. I wish qi Hyrija be well. Even Zades with the donated graves of the greeted North. For me to be calm. Kamba qi was afraid that he was gathering me, with the cures I had in the nursing, it was all right for me. I was in pain and she was happy and now she is happy, I have no more pain and she has sat down and made me laugh. Let us hope in the prayer given on 2. XI. 1956 for the release of my conditioner. Zijaja should be interested, I need to be represented in court with any lawyer. If I had the opportunity, bring me some money. With that I end up embracing you with longing like you, the boys and the graves, Uncle Elez, Ragip, Hakas and others who greet you.
Burrel, me 4. XII. 1956
Sheuqet Muka
Letter no. 31
March 2, 1957
I loved Meserret;
I received your letter, Adnan’s letter and Ziya’s letter. I was very happy. I myself have been and am always in good health. Fish oil, you do not need to bring me anymore. I expected from Uranus and Feta not to receive a letter. I wish them well from Tirana. Write to me about their health. I was glad that for the new season he had two uncles’s brides. Adnan did not tell me about Hakan as he was. Bring me my honors when you go and see me. I’m sorry for Zijan. I wish he had settled the issue of the smoke. I was also very sorry for Shuayb that his daughter was back. For goodness sake. Let Symja go from my side and bring my greetings to his wife and daughter. You expected me to announce Aisha’s engagement. Tell Zades not to worry about this at all. Let’s hope some good place is found that we love, not only for Isha, but also for Zijan and the other two graves. Greet me as much as I greeted you, as well as your husband. Do not ask me about engagements. To like you is also my pleasure. Uncle Elezit, to whom I am presenting my honors, is my representative in such cases. How do I get Myhsin? Say hello to me like this one like Irfan’s friend was kissing both cheeks. Even Jahit and all the other qi sent me greetings, sausage. Take care of the hay tower. In case you cannot repair it, lower the land so that it does not collapse. I guess it will be weak. Adnan tells me in the letter that he has become a lazy. I do not want to hear this from his mouth anymore. I did not want to do anything but do it once again at your age. You would work day and night. The sun would never have put me to sleep. To some extent you know how I worked. So, I expect from your qi at this point to pass me. As I have written to you in other letters, spend your free time studying. In this day and age, I do not know how to take advantage of my free time, it is a great sin. Those of you who have served in the military must keep your word within the discipline in which you lived. Do not forget for a moment that only she qi rules herself, triumphs properly in life…
Nexhatija does not write to me or take me the grades of the first bachelor. You do not want to be frustrated if you cannot get the right pitch so invest in a good capo. I do not want to see you until I have completed my school year. He kissed the cheeks of both this, Lirija, and Gjylferoza and Brahimi. When you come, do not leave me without coal. As for the other thing, it will come to you more easily. Greetings to the three aunts Xhevas, Fetes, Symes, Ragip, Zija, the uncles of their families and who cares. I received the money you brought me.
- III. 1957
Your father
Sheuqet Muka
Letter no. 32
March 4, 1957
Sister Fete of our Uranus;
Every time I wait for a week when one of you will come, I get caught and touched more by a natural longing, by a strange boredom that has taken me away! It seems to me that I always have you small, just as I left you almost 13 years ago, and sod, thankfully I have all three men like granite rocks, seasoned and forged at school, trained and trained in the army. But even this temporary desolate boredom has its own kind of reason. It has never occurred to me that during my lifetime, you would one day be a parasite so that we could become a burden to others for years to come, so when I see sod themselves in this state, I get so upset and secreted I’m too tired to say that I’m not alive, but I cast shadows on the earth in vain. So, after the bad luck we are, through me and yours, where are you meeting them with bad luck, you came around me! The telegram of annoyance does not sound good to me, I am very happy. I always wish you all well. Thank goodness I’m fine too. Let’s hope to be brought to Tirana soon for surgery. today was taken my name is on the note. When I leave I telegraph you? Nexhatija does not give me the grades of the first master. Ani. So, in the next month I will bring you birthday wishes like this, like the Good Freedom you came to see me. The day before yesterday I appealed the request for conditional release to the Supreme Court. This time I wanted to write to Qirjakos himself, but I could not do it without writing to you. Let Symja write to me, as soon as I know of the appeal, and on this occasion bring me my greetings. Bring me the food one or two days before Ramadan, in case you do not receive news that I left for Tirana. Even a little charcoal and a thin cartridge to make me a box for food. You did not send me the last letter of Nazim, which Adnan wrote to me. My breasts are torn at the base of my nose, and if I cannot fix them here, now when you come, I will fix them. Selam Xhevas, Symes, jou, Meserret, Adnan, uncle Elez, Ragip, Zija, Visho and their families, Dan, Qazim and all others. His freedom kissed his cheek and cheek. Tell ‘Uthman and’ Abdullah about smoking and greet them.
- III. 1957
Your brother and father
Sheuqet Muka
Letter no. 33
1957
Two lovers of my buds;
Which I have more beautiful than flawers buds, through this letter I am bringing you with a mouth and heart full of birthday wishes. As you already know, I have been living in a very lonely atmosphere for a very long time, away from the pure family sex from which I have never been able to separate and leave for fun, even if for a minute, kuer you were free as I fortunately have you sod. Except for the scent of liberty, there is no smell sweeter and tastier than that of the family circle, to which no other pleasure and taste in this world resembles, no matter how valuable and precious it may be. If you were in front of this dilemma: do you want to be the first of the earth or to live near your family, without one or two you would give up the first one and choose to stay in the lap of the family, where man grows up, mourning and frying. Although I find myself miles away from you, anima you should know this well because of your smell, for which I am very eager to enjoy it with the outer senses of my body, yet I still feel this very deeply body so in soul. Do not take it too much for me to say that this incomparable and unparalleled smell gives me an indescribable joy at once and keeps me alive and renews my health and life. Especially when the months of your birthday are approaching, my soul with mind and heart together flies there among you and caresses you, without months without seeing each other with eyes. This month of white spring is yours, May, August and October are the beautiful and sweet months of your brothers and that of Kallnor, Of my only nephew, for whom, from the longing he has taken from me, my lips tremble, I then come so happy that for a moment I do not feel that I am in prison, but close to you, among you. Wait for me, your birthdays, forever, summer and summer, celebrate them with that soul and heart that is dying itself, bless me even better and wiser than I have sod you, spend your whole life always in joys and gladness and never suffer turmoil and turmoil in your life. On this sad occasion, I thank you all with health and I wish you Ramadan as well.
Burrel, April 1, 1957
He kissed you with longing
Your father
Sheuqet Muka
Letter no. 34
- 06. 1957
Strongly loved Meserret;
I received Adnan’s letter, your postcard and Ziya’s letter. I was very happy qi was good. I myself am well and I always hope to go to Tirana for surgery. As for the betrothal of Liberty and Aisha, I have nothing to say to you except approval. I do not know the first two boys, I know the third, but I cannot observe you. Nevertheless, you are free to act as you please, as long as you think well and betroth them in good places to enjoy their lives and inherit. First of all, it is a necessary condition for the boy to be good, healthy and to have a master. If you are one word, end it without having to take another word from me. If you were all of one mind, it is our desire to be complete. Otherwise, postpone it until the qi meeting to do with me if work awaits. One more message.
Engagements are very delicate. Therefore, you must be very careful and reserved. All those who want to get married should be considered better than us and taken in the mouth with respect. In these days I will again pray for conditional release. There is no need for a copy of the indictment, which they told Adnan. When you write to Nazim, kiss my cheeks, greet him and tell him that I am fine and I miss him a lot. To Myz, I will send the beautiful letter I cooked for him to my next one. Hemp if stiff, do not drop it. My belt got to work quite a bit though we were often torn off; but we tied it, no matter how much it was shortened, it was enough for us, because the well had a lot of water. Maybe we’ll go with him for a few more days. Towards the last week of this month or at the beginning of the next month, if you had the opportunity let one of you come and bring me food. Nexhatija should not come, because the road is far and tired. I only expect a letter from her, she told me how she left school. I wish him a successful school year. For Uncle Elez, I heard that his ears were ringing. Aunt Xhevas, Fetes, Symes, Hakas your, Zijas with sisters, Ragip with all of them, uncles of aunts, Elez Barbullushi, Domnorvet, Tahir and all those neighbors of those who kill especially Qazim Hoxha, Hamit, Myhsin selam. Lirija, Nexhatija and Irfan kissed the cheeks.
Sheuqet Muka
Letter no. 35
- 09. 1957
Two of my souls: Our sister Fete’s;
When my eyes were enlightened with you two on the day of the meeting, it seemed to me that I went out to another world, to that free world, that you are lucky enough to be happy, that you are out and enjoying with us the good things of life qi she has in vetvedi. If it were not for her, I would not have believed your eyes and told you that she is the little girl I left behind 13 years ago! It was a great growth, just as Adnan described it to me in a letter to himself. Even though you did not expect it, I was still glad that you had taken it with you, because I am convinced that just as I longed for him, so he longed to take it from me. Well, if he answered me with a yes, when I asked him if he had passed the class, you would enjoy me even more. He should be like his father in terms of zeal at school. Although I did my high school education in a foreign language, I never went to class, but I always passed, and I came out as the first or the second. If you were not a teacher, you would be surprised if someone told me that students stay in the classroom when they have done the lessons in their own language. During school time, especially for a student, it was appropriate for me to focus only on taking care of the lessons, in order to be equipped with the most precious bench of this life. Everything else has its time. So, I expect from you, oh my Tija I wish you had a burning desire for lessons, and with that I wish you success for the new school year you have started. Although the meeting took three weeks, except for Meserret’s telegram and a postcard of Zija, I did not have a letter from you. You expected from Uranus that he would answer me for the birthday wishes I made. I wish you all well. I know how busy you are, but a postcard does not bother you if you take it to me, since I had enough to calm me down that I am fine with you. Day by day I expect to be brought to Tirana for an operation.
Therefore, do not eat my food during this month. You would have thought of pushing me even further, in case I did not telegraph you. The thin wool flannel I asked for, you had here. Greetings to many aunts Xhevas, Hakas, Zades, Symes of Lirija. Also, the sons, Zija, Ragip, uncle Elez, Visho and their families. Even Hamid, Dan and Qazim, Barbullushi, Domnorvet, the neighborhoods of Mahalla and Dugaja and all the others who ask for me. I do not need coal.
I grab you and kiss you with a lot of longing, your brother and father. /Memorie.al
Sheuqet Muka